science

• Digestion is the process wherein food is broken down into smaller pieces
• Food is changed into smaller sizes by the process of chewing or mastication
• anus is a posterior opening where the undigested residue called feces exits
• the alimentary tracts consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.
• the mouth or buccal cavity ingests the food
• the teeth breakdown the food
• the muscular tongue enables us to taste food
• the saliva contains salivary amylase ptyalin that breaks doen carbohydrate-rich foods
• food that is chewed and lubricated is changed into a ball shaped mass called bolus
• during swallowing, the swallow reflex raises the flap of muscles called the epiglottis
• the esophagus is the muscular tube that conveys food from the pharynx to the stomach
• peristalsis: wave-like contraction
• the stomach is the pear shaped organ that is connected to the distal end of the esophagus
• the small intestine is a long, coiled tube that fits the abdomen
• the three regions of the small intestine: duodenum, jejunum, ileum
• the large intestine, also called colon, is the organ next to the small intestine
• the ascending colon has a blind corner called caecum
• the rectum serves as a warehouse for the undigested residue or feces
• the liver is the largest internal organ of the body
• bile is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder
• the pancreas is the large, elongated, and yellowish gland that lies posterior to the stomach